2008 Mercury MARINER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
461 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
106,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 403 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 296 of 461 complaints (64.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 294 | 63.8% |
| Braking behavior | 56 | 12.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 53 | 11.5% |
| Engine operation | 36 | 7.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 2.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 296 |
| Power Train | 55 |
| Service Brakes | 29 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 29 |
| Electrical System | 23 |
| Unknown Or Other | 19 |
| Engine | 14 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 12 |
Steering: 296; Power Train: 55; Service Brakes: 29; Vehicle Speed Control: 29; Electrical System: 23; Unknown Or Other: 19; Engine: 14; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 51 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 80 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 146 |
| 150,000 and above | 83 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 51; 75,000 to 99,999: 80; 100,000 to 149,999: 146; 150,000 and above: 83
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (146). 58 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 27 |
| 2014 | 56 |
| 2015 | 43 |
| 2016 | 59 |
| 2017 | 45 |
| 2018 | 45 |
| 2019 | 48 |
| 2020 | 30 |
| 2021 | 25 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2007: 2; 2008: 6; 2009: 10; 2010: 10; 2011: 10; 2012: 14; 2013: 27; 2014: 56; 2015: 43; 2016: 59; 2017: 45; 2018: 45; 2019: 48; 2020: 30; 2021: 25; 2022: 15; 2023: 8; 2024: 7; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 294 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 56 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 53 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10201053 · 2007-08-28 (August 28, 2007)
CAR HAD 2,500 MILES WHEN BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND ONLY HAD MANUAL BRAKING. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY NEEDED TO CONSULT WITH FORD SPECIALISTS TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T SURE IF IT WAS THE MASTER CYLINDER OR THE BRAKES. THE REPLACEMENT PART HAD TO PULLED FROM THE ASSEMBLY LINE BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE NOT DUE UNTIL 8-15-2007. REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER ON 7-26-2007. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 2,507 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201053 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10201058 · 2007-08-28 (August 28, 2007)
TRAVELING THROUGH WILLIAMSBURG, VA EN ROUTE TO VACATION WHEN POWERTRAIN LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND POWER STEERING IS LOST. ABLE TO STEER VEHICLE INTO PARKING LOT TO WAIT FOR TOW. HAD TO FIND A WAY TO GET TO THE OPEN RENTAL LOCATIONS TO CONTINUE ON TRIP, UNLOAD ALL LUGGAGE INCLUDING A LOADED ROOF RACK INTO PARKING LOT AND RELOAD WHEN RENTAL ARRIVES AN HOUR LATER. CAR WAS TOWED THE NEXT DAY TO THE CLOSEST MERCURY DEALER WHO DETERMINES THE PROBLEM WAS AN INCORRECTLY SEATED CONNECTOR PIN. DEALER SECURED PIN AND PERFORMED TEST ON POWER STEERING MODULE…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,061 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201058 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10222323 · 2008-03-25 (March 25, 2008)
NEW 2008 MERCURY MARINER INTERMITTENT WILL NOT START OR HARD TO START AND WHEN STARTS EMITS HEAVY BLACK SMOKE FROM EXHAUST. WHEN CAR DID NOT START LEFT DAUGHTER IN A UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT. TOOK CAR TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP, SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADMITTED FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THE CAR BULLETIN # 6023000 AND # 20140. DEALERSHIP ALSO ADMITTED FORD HAS NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. CAR IS UNSAFE AND CAN LEAVE THE DRIVER IN A DEADLY SITUATION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222323 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10243195 · 2008-09-23 (September 23, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ABNORMAL ROUGHNESS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS IN THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT AND LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE IN WHICH THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED TSB NUMBER 10022282 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES) IN REFERENCE TO THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT UPDATED COMPLAINT ON D…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10246773 · 2008-10-26 (October 26, 2008)
IN JULY 2008 , "CHECK TIRE PRESSURE" LIGHT BECAME PRESENT. UPON PLACING AIR IN LEFT-REAR TIRE A CRACK/ LEAK IN VALVE STEM BECAME PRESENT. VALVE STEM WAS REPLACED. IN AUGUST 2008 SAME ISSUE OCCURRED WITH RIGHT REAR STEM. TODAY, OCTOBER 26TH 2008 THE ISSUE OCCURRED WITH THE RIGHT FRONT VALVE STEM. ALL VALVE STEMS ON MY VEHICLE HAVE NOW BEEN REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 11,832 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246773 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10247136 · 2008-10-29 (October 29, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND STALLED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND THE TRANSMISSION MADE A LOUD NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE OIL LEAKAGE COMING FROM THE GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,094 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247136 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10247862 · 2008-11-06 (November 6, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND PROCEEDING TO A STOP, THE ENGINE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WITH A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE OIL LEAKAGE FROM THE GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,094 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10252764 · 2008-12-24 (December 24, 2008)
HYBRID VERSION OF 2008 MERCURY MARINER SUV INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION OF (2) DASHBOARD WARNING LAMPS: MULTIPLE APPEARANCES OF "YELLOW WRENCH" SYMBOL @ L/EDGE INSTRUMENT PANEL - MANUAL VAGUE, FORD SVC WRITER SAYS LAMP INDICATES FAULT DETECTED IN ELECTRONICALLY-CONTROLLED CVT (CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION); CLEARS WITH SHUT-DOWN/RESTART. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO SCHEDULE PROMPT DIAGNOSTIC, CLAIMING ONLY ONE TECH/TOOL. HAS NOT RECURRED IN ~ 45 DAYS. TODAY (12-24-08), THE RED TRIANGLE WARNING @ RIGHT EDGE OF INST PANEL CAME ON AFTER COLD-STA…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252764 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
14V284000 · Steering:Electric Power Assist System
Reported: 2014-05-29 (May 29, 2014)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.
Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 18, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S05.
NHTSA campaign record ↗14V526000 · Hybrid Propulsion System
Reported: 2014-09-03 (September 3, 2014)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.
Consequence: If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S19.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V606000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Floor Shift | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
Reported: 2015-09-29 (September 29, 2015)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
NHTSA campaign record ↗